Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke

HONOLULU — Effective May 15, 2025, the State of Hawaiʻi Apostille and Certification Application, administered by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, is now available in 12 languages, in addition to English.

Nearly one in four Hawaiʻi residents speaks a language other than English at home. This update reflects the state’s commitment to linguistic diversity and inclusion in public services.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke led the development of the translated application as part of the office’s ongoing commitment to improving language access and modernizing state services.

“Hawaiʻi is one of the most linguistically diverse states in the country, and government services must reflect that,” said Lt. Governor Luke. “Expanding access to the apostille application in 12 languages ensures that more residents, regardless of the language they speak, can navigate this process with clarity and confidence.”

Under Hawaiʻi law, the Lieutenant Governor issues apostilles and certifications for official documents used abroad, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, and notarized documents. With about 9,000 applications processed annually, expanded language access marks a significant step toward more equitable and inclusive government services.

The translated application is now available in:

The effort aligns with the mission of the state’s Department of Health Office of Language Access (OLA), which works to address the needs of limited English proficient (LEP) individuals.

“Nineteen years ago, Hawaiʻi became the first state in the nation to pass a comprehensive language access law to affirmatively address the needs of members of our community with limited English proficiency,” said May Mizuno, executive director of the Office of Language Access. “It is vitally important that every person with limited English proficiency has meaningful access to state services, no matter what language they speak. The Office of Language Access will continue to work collaboratively with all state agencies to ensure that state services are truly accessible to everyone in our state.”

Apostille applications are accepted online and in person at the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. To view the translated applications, visit ltgov.hawaii.gov/application-for-apostille-or-certification-of-documents/ and scroll to the “Need Help in Another Language?” section.